A leading agribusiness company in Kenya is seeking to fill the position of a Technical Officer.
Overview
Reporting
to the Field Relations Officer, the T.O will be responsible for Farmers Liaison
Officers, assisting them in field staff recruitments, orchard management, guide
farmers on seedlings planting and management, inspection, farmer visits, farmer
complaints handling, GPS and other data collection as assigned, harvesting
activities, crop estimates, advise farmers on cultural practices, competitor
activities
in the region, submitting reports to the office, record maintenance and
completion, implementation and
maintenance of Olivado Internal Management System and other statutory
requirements, other duties as
assigned by immediate supervisor.
Responsibilities and Duties:
A1:
Technical and farmer relation activities
1.
Mentoring, motivating, and training of farmers liaison officers.
2.
Support farmers liaison officers recruit and train harvesting supervisors and
pickers.
3.
Continuous verification of Farmers Liaison officer’s completed tasks (Farm
verifications at least once every two months).
4.
Support Farmers Liaison team with farmers group trainings.
5.
Ensure and maintain good relations between farmers, the farmers liaison
officers, and the company.
6.
Support the Farmers Liaison officers in training the farmers on good
agricultural practices including fertilizer use and management, crop
protection, Integrated pest management and integrated crop management.
7.
Support Farmer Liaison on the operation of Olivado Internal Management System.
8.
Prepare and submit all records and documents as required by the Internal
Management System in a timely manner.
9.
Act as the Company’s Representative with other external Stakeholders in the
areas of operations e.g. the HCD Staff, the County Agriculture Officers, the
KEPHIS Staff.
10.
Providing intelligence information to the Company on Competitor activities.
11.
Take Charge of the Company assets and equipment in their control.
12.
Regularly advise the management on ways of enhancing farmers relationship,
increasing efficiency, optimizing production and profit.
13.
Any Other duties as assigned by the management from time to time.
A2.
Farm inspection and certification duties
1.
Inspection of farms and other Olivado facilities to verify compliance against
statutory and voluntary standards and produce timely and accurate reports.
2.
Following up on closure of non-compliances identified during the internal
inspections.
3.
Address areas for improvements noted during the internal inspections or during
on farm verification.
4.
Coordination of external certification audits in the zones.
5.
Implement Corrective Action requests from the Certification bodies.
A3.
Data collection duties
1.
Verification of collected data in their areas of operation.
2.
Informing the company of activities of competitors and other activities that
may affect the company’s operations, including county government activities.
3.
Provide the data team with weekly reports on technical assistance and
verification activities as outlined in the Internal Management System.
B. JOB
SPECIFICATION:
1.
Degree or Diploma in Agriculture or related discipline with a bias to fruit and
vegetable production.
2.
Two years’ experience in the production of horticultural crops in a smallholder
scheme or exporter out grower scheme.
3.
Good knowledge of the key or potential avocado production areas of Kenya.
4.
A good understanding of the labour regulations in Kenya.
5.
At least one day practical inspection course setting out basic principles of
inspection.
6.
At least two witness inspections accompanying an auditor, could be Global Gap,
or Organic, Fair Trade or others.
7.
Food safety and good agriculture practice (GAP) training.
i.
Training in HACCP principles.
ii. Food hygiene training.
iii. Plant protection, fertilizer use and integrated pest management training.
8.
Excellent Kiswahili and English reading, writing, and speaking skills.
9.
Proficient in computer application packages including MS- Word and Excel.
10.
Technical report writing skills.
11.
Training as a trainer of trainers (TOT).
12.
Knowledge in business management skills such as budgeting, expenditure
accounting and resource allocation.
13.
Charismatic with good marketing and convincing skills.
14.
Ability to train, mentor and motivate the Farmer Liaison Team.
15.
Ability to work independently and within a team under minimal supervision.
16.
Ability to contribute to the planning of the company’s future relationships
with farmer suppliers and future strategic development of the company.
17.
Valid motorcycle riding licence and a valid motor vehicle driving licence.
How to
Apply
Qualified
individuals should submit a cover letter and a Curriculum Vitae as one pdf
document, via email with the subject Technical Officer to hrkenya@olivado.com
and cc fieldtech@olivado.com to reach us on or before 10th February 2023.
